Kintamani Volcano and Batur Lake

After our visit to Tirta Empul Temple, our next stop was something we both looked forward to very much. It was the viewing of the volcano, Mount Batur. We had never seen a real volcano before. So, this added to our excitement besides the idea of having meals on hill top.

Lakeview Restaurant perched on hill top

We had reserved a table for two at Lakeview Restaurant, Kintamani. We got some discount since we had reserved earlier through e-mail. It was a buffet lunch. We had arrived a bit too early. There was no one at the restaurant yet so we thought it was closed. 

Outdoor tables overseeing Batur Lake and Mount Batur

We had carefully chosen an outdoor table so that we can enjoy the volcano breeze and the view below since the restaurant perched on a hill. 

We sat here in the shade and to enjoy the unblocked view of both the lake and volcano

The breeze was cool but after half an hour through our lunch, we were shivering and had to get our jackets from the MPV. The wind was strong at times. 

The food was not bad. Choices were plenty. The food temperature was okay (not cold) but it got cold easily with the blowing wind. The buffet came with a bottle of mineral water for each person but coffee was not included. To taste Kintamani's very own coffee, we ordered a cup to try. 

Our lunch table

Batur Lake (view from our table)

I think we spent about two hours here. We wanted to make sure we enjoyed the view of the volcano and the breeze to the max before we left. 

Mount Batur 

Abang Gusti, our driver-cum-friend, got to eat for free here but at their dining area. We were relieved that they offered him lunch since I had read from the restaurant's website that no lunch for drivers whose customers had booked through e-mail. Actually, all the other drivers who took their customers there got free food.

Close up view of houses near the lake

Houses by Batur Lake

After our lunch, Abang Gusti drove us down the hill and reached Batur Lake. The lake was actually the largest crater lake in Bali. 

Batur Lake

Across the lake was Trunyan Village. We were not interested to visit it as we were not interested to see corpses and cemeteries.

Trunyan Village across the lake (with Mount Abang in the backdrop)

Next, Abang Gusti recommended us a floating restaurant on Batur Lake. We just took some photos of the beautiful huts floating on the lake as we were too full to eat anymore.

Floating restaurant

The sky is so blue in Bali

Around the floating restaurant and hotel

We could feel the platform wobbling at times.

Since this was our free and easy trip, we took it slowly. We spent time chatting with Abang Gusti to learn more about their religion, culture and Balinese in general. He was anxious to bring us to many places of interest as he felt he needed to perform his duty well. But we asked him to slow down and just followed our itinerary of the day. Of course, he was very helpful and knowledgeable. He brought us to this floating restaurant on his own initiative. We could sense that he was very proud to show us around his hometown.

Next, Abang Gusti brought us to try kopi luwak on our request. (in the next post)

Details:

1. Lakeview Kintamani Restaurant (pre-booked through email to get discount)

Jalan Raya Penelokan, Kintamani, Bali.

Telephone: +62- 366 52525

Our bill was 197,200 rupiah. (Bali Coffee = 10,000 rupiah, Buffet lunch =160,000 rupiah (for two pax), government tax = 18,700 rupiah and service charge = 8,500 rupiah)

2. The name of the floating restaurant and hotel:
Kedisan Resto Apung and Bungalows
Jl. Raya Kedisan, Danau Batur,
Kintamani, Bali.
Telephone: (0366) 51627
HP: 081 337 755 411

Verdict:

Must do if you ever visit Bali. Bring a jacket if you want to enjoy the volcano breeze.

Tirta Empul Temple: Holy Water

Tirta Empul Temple is a holy spring water Hindu temple in Gianyar, Bali. The spring water is said to have healing power. Many come here to pray and bathe in the pools.

We came here driven by our hired driver, Abang Gusti. He had picked us up at our hotel after our breakfast. The entrance fee was 15,000 rupiah per person. I was not sure he was supposed to take us around the place. However, he was kind enough to show us around since we looked lost. He also told us a bit about this place. We communicated in Bahasa Malaysia and well, we understood his. So, communication was not a problem.

Finally, we got the shot of this beautiful door architecture (near the entrance) before we left the temple. The strong sun had hindered us from taking a good photo at first.

Against the sun...what a bright sunny day!

Well, he also became our photographer throughout the trip. We had actually became friends. He was friendly enough and even invited us to visit his village in Jatiluwih. We were indeed very pleased and  grabbed the opportunity to visit a real local Balinese home. This will be in another post.

The hill next to the temple

The fish pond (before we reached the main pool)

Koi fish from the fish pond

A lovely shot of water lily at the fish pond

I like this temple as it is peaceful and historical. It was quite quiet due to lack of tourists and worshipers maybe because we came in the morning around 10 . However, we were lucky to see a bunch of ladies performing the bathing rites and prayers in the holy pool. 

The main pool

The worshipers were required to go into the pool with a tray of prayer stuffs and joss sticks.They are required to wash themselves at the flowing water fountain starting from the left to the right. Then, they were supposed to go to another two other pools at the next section to perform the same rites.

Some worshipers performing the bathing rites and prayers

Abang Gusti had asked us to participate but we did not bring any spare clothes to change. So, we could not. Then, we followed what he did to get some blessing. He squatted at the edge of the pool and reached his hand to the flowing holy water. Then, he washed and patted his face and head with the water. 

Follow Abang Gusti's method to get the blessing (without getting wet)

I spotted this beautiful dragonfly by the pool and could not resist to capture its picture.

A gecko running past us

Besides the pools, there was a holy pond with rippling water. The water came from underground. The pond was filled with green algae. We learned that the water in the holy pond came from the same source as the holy bathing pool.

The holy pond

Reflections of the surroundings onto the pond

Rippling water

We talked with Abang Gusti for some time and then, we left the temple to go for our lunch at Kintamani. 

Entrance Fee:
15,000 rupiah per person.

Verdict:
Must visit. Go in the morning to avoid the crowd.